
Mary J. Blige
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Mary J. Blige: Singing Elton John's "Sorry …" Is A Catharsis
GRAMMY winner Mary J. Blige has shaped contemporary R&B on the highest level. On April 6 the Elton John tribute album Revamp was released, and her reshaping of his classic "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" gives the song a soulful treatment that feels like it was waiting to be uncovered.
"I specifically chose to sing 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' because of how beautiful and sad the song is and it was also so cathartic for me to sing," Blige explained to Billboard.
Blige says her participation in the tribute album "is special to me not only because [Elton] is a good friend of mine but also because of my love for his songwriting and amazing songs."
"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" was the breakout hit on John's 1976 LP, Blue Moves, the last album in his initial series of collaborations with lyricist Bernie Taupin before they took a creative hiatus. Beyond being a break-up song, "Sorry …" seems to freeze a moment in time, hold an emotion and reinforce how letting it go through expression allows a person to move forward.
Summing up the long-running partnership between John and Taupin, Blige commented, "Elton and Bernie's songs, so inspiring and powerful, will continue to stand the test of time."
Be sure to tune in to "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Salute" on April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The two-hour concert special will feature performances by some of music's biggest names, including Ed Sheeran, Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Sam Smith, SZA, and many more.